COLUMN: Reflecting on Aggie football
I don’t like being sentimental. It’s not my favorite thing by any stretch of the imagination, but as I reach the end of my time at Utah State, I realize just how much I will miss the spot where the sagebrush grows.
Covering Aggie Athletics has been a rollercoaster ride this season, and I’m pretty sure I almost got an ulcer after the end of men’s basketball season. I’m looking forward to graduating and opening a new chapter in life, but I’m dreading the day when Thursday, August 30, rolls around, and I won’t find myself in the press box at Romney Stadium.
It’s only Aggie football, though, right?
It’s not only Aggie football. It’s only the most exciting Aggie football team we have seen under the Gary Andersen era. I know people say that every year, but barring any injuries, this Aggie football team could really make some noise.
USU will return 17 starters after losing 12 starters last season. I know there are big names gone such as NFL-bound Robert Turbin and Bobby Wagner, but the likes of Adam Kennedy, Chuckie Keeton and Kerwynn Williams will make up for the losses on the offensive side of the ball. The fact that three of the projected starting offensive linemen are returning starters also bodes well.
Al Lapuaho, Bojay Filimoeatu and McKade Brady will be returning on defense and made several critical plays last season to help USU contain its opponents.
That’s not to say there aren’t a few bugs to work out – special teams really struggled during a scrimmage Monday. “Terrible” would be an understatement in describing the special teams’ performance during the scrimmage – especially the place kickers. USU made 30- and 40-yard field goals look like 60-yard last ditch efforts.
In my mind, the loss of big playmakers while keeping other players is of little consequence and will have little effect on how exciting USU football will be. USU has a new offensive coordinator, and, although I won’t be watching from high above Merlin Olsen Field, I hope Matt Wells will be just a little more aggressive on the offensive attack.
Having the experience and talent of quarterbacks Chuckie Keeton and Adam Kennedy to draw from will make the Aggies deep and dangerous. Could you imagine those two on the same field in something like a 2-point conversion situation? If I was an opposing defense, I would have nightmares over the thought of that even being a possibility.
There is also still one member remaining of last season’s three-headed running back monster – Williams. He might not be a running back who will take 30 carries a game – it will be somewhere around 15, merely because of his size – but his ability to break open big runs and consistently gain yardage when called upon will be an invaluable piece in an exciting team.
So what. Football will be exciting. Who cares?
USU has been on the cusp of greatness several times. It happened twice last year in my mind. What I mean by greatness is a great home-field atmosphere and a great team that wins in clutch situations. I won’t touch on all the near losses, except for two.
USU’s double-overtime loss to Colorado State was heart wrenching for several reasons, but what may have been the hardest part to swallow was the atmosphere in which the game was lost. I have never seen Romney Stadium so full for a football game not against an in-state rival. With the game on the line, everyone stood – even the season ticket holders – and made a noise and a ruckus so loud it gave me chills.
I’m not going to predict how many wins USU will get next season, but I will go so far as to say the Aggies will defend home field. There were never be a dull moment.
I’m going to miss Aggie football.
Go Aggies!
– Tyler Huskinson is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. He is also a sports writer for The Herald Journal. Follow his Twitter feed @TDHuskiSports or send any comments to ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu.